Situated at the tip of the Landguard peninsula this windswept
shingle spit offers a wide variety of unusual flora and fauna,
migrating birds, military history and huge ships arriving and
departing at the Port of Felixstowe.
Landguard Nature Reserve (new
window) covers an area of approximately 33 hectares (81
acres) and is jointly owned by Suffolk County Council and
Suffolk Coastal District Council who employ the Landguard
Ranger.
The nature reserve supports over 440 species of wild flowers and
grasses including the nationally rare Stinking Goosefoot and has
been designated an a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI).
Immediately alongside the nature reserve the
Landguard Bird Observatory (new
window) run by the Landguard Conservation Trust has
been recording bird migration since 1982. As a result of this
work Landguard is now recognised as a very important landfall
for migratory birds.
The main car park for the reserve is at Manor Terrace at the
north of the peninsula, where there are also public conveniences.
There is also a foot-ferry service (new window) operating from
Harwich and Shotley during the spring and summer.
Elsewhere on the peninsula there is a viewing area which
overlooks the Port of Felixstowe and the Orwell Estuary,
Landguard Fort, which is an Scheduled Ancient Monument owned by
English Heritage and managed by the
Landguard Fort
Trust (new window) and Felixstowe Museum.
All the different interests at Landguard work closely together
through the Landguard Partnership (new
window).